Applied Behavior Analysis: Facilitated Communication

One of the rules of scientific thinking that was violated in the video on "Facilitated Communication" was Falsifiablity. Falsifiablity is when is possible to prove something is false but at the same time you can still say that it ishould right. In this case, the founder of this invention was trying to find a way on how the autistic children can communicate with their family members. The founder believed that autistic children are not retarded but that has ever an intelligent mind in prison in a dead body. The problem with the "Facilitated Communication" was that it was getting many families in trouble. For instance, Matthew who was a child with autism was getting communicated with his family through a facilitator and he wrote on his letter

This means that the intervention for the client should be in the best interest of the client who is the most vulnerable and in need of behavioral analytic help. The intervention should primarily benefit the client and not necessarily the caregiver or facility. Behavior analysts are required to follow the code of ethics and use evidence-based procedures. The behavior analyst should define the relation and have a clear and concise contract detailing his or her priorities for the intervention to best benefit the client. The behavior analyst should also make sure that the procedures implemented benefit the intended client.

My goals to complete the Graduate Certificate in Applied Behavior Analysis are both, personal and professional. On a professional level, I want to advance my graduate studies by becoming a certified Behavior Analyst. For this I must complete the courses required by the Behavior Analyst Certification Board. On a personal level, this certificate means several things: providing an example of improvement for my family, and providing my family with the adequate financial resources in the furure. I have been the first in my family to obtain a university degree. Being certified as a behavioral analyst would make me a specialist in this field. It is my hope that the completion of my professional career stimulates other family members to aspire higher educational goals and become productive professional citizens in society.

Baer, D. M., Wofl, M. M., & Risley, T. R. (2015, 11 5). Some Current Dimensions of Applied Behavior Analysis. Retrieved from ncbi.nlm.nih.gov: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13109980/pdf/jaba00083-0089.pdf

This paper focuses on applied behavior analysis (ABA). The concept of ABA in definition is the use of knowledge gained within science of behavior to improve behaviors that are socially crucial. The researchers of this paper focus not the importance of having parents use ABA training when working with their children who have autism spectrum disorder (ASD). There has been a large amount of research done on ABA techniques and it is something that has been used in many different fields of practice. Areas such as social work, education, medicine, etc have benefited from the ABA approach. Now it is important to distinguish what the views of parents using ABA are.

The Applied Behavioral Analysis model, or (ABA) as it is commonly referred to, has been in practice for many years, touching the lives of many people of all ages, backgrounds, and degrees of the Autism spectrum. As with anything, there is a considerable amount of misinformation projecting a negative view of ABA. These views have questioned the protocol, application, and necessity of the ABA. The following is some information and facts to hopefully make clear what ABA not only does, but what it stands for as a therapy that will continue to help those in need.

In the documentary, Frontline: Prisoners of Silence, Facilitated Communication and its controversies are discussed. Facilitated Communication is a practice that claims to give nonverbal autistic people the ability to express themselves. When first introduced, FC was heralded as revolutionizing the way people look at autism and mental retardation. It opened a door that many never thought existed. Unfortunately that door turned out to be dream of what could be.

Facilitated communication (FC) is a technique that involves a facilitator assisting a FC user, that is otherwise unable to communicate (often children with autism), and claims to produce the communications of the FC user. To demonstrate that it is the facilitator that is communicating and not the person with autism that is communicating, all that needs to be done is a simple experiment. To test who is really communicating, an experiment can be performed that blocks the facilitator from either hearing the information that is presented to the user, or hearing incorrect/different information than what is presented to the user. Additionally, there may be a condition that involves the facilitator and the user receiving the same information. After which the facilitator must assist the user in the traditional use of FC to produce the appropriate response to what the user was presented.

Applied Behavior Analysis analysts are required to know the steps that are needed and necessary for behavior modification. This type of modification requires a clear definition of the behavior needing modification (target behavior), how this will benefit the individual in need of the modification, a clear plan of modification, and consistent data gathering to determine the effectiveness of the proposed behavior modification plan. In order to achieve a successful modification plan, the ABA professional first needs to gather information about the individual either by direct or indirect means. The modification must always been in the best interest of the individual, or those closest to the individual, and it must be a functional modification that can be carried out in the absence of the analyst. The ABA professional needs to understand the needs of each client. In order to do this, the professional will have to assess the behavior, gather data, identify a target behavior, propose a hypothesis about an intervention, implement the modification program, gather more data about the effectiveness of the program, and report about the outcome.

Based on the video, the concept of Facilitated Communication for individuals diagnosed with autism or mental retardation was seen as an innovative medical advancement during the early 1990s (APA.org) as it allowed individuals to use a letter board in order to address their ideas and thoughts with the assistance of a facilitator. The treatment program was seen as revolutionary in many ways as it allowed people to see autistic individuals as having posses the same level of knowledge and intelligence (APA.org). Furthermore, the new method allowed autistic students to participate in classes and regular schoolwork with their peers. Facilitated communication was seen as a significant progression within methodical research. However, many researchers

I think this is hardest part to change for me, the worst thing was, I can’t even say “no” to a salesperson at the mall. I feel like if I tell them “no”, I’m being disrespectful or rude to the person I am talking to. This applies to my family situation. I was raised in a very conservative and close family. If one of my family members ask for a favor, whether money or advise, they know who to ask for, cause I would always say, “yes” to them.

Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) is one of the most misunderstood methods of reinforcement. ABA also is referred to as ‘behavior modification’, which is the main contributor of the negative connotation with this method. ABA is the application of behavioral learning principles to change behavior (Woolfolk 256). Applied Behavior Analysis can be very successful in the classroom if done correctly. However, to begin this, one must study a student to decide what reinforcers will best work to modify the behavior.

My purpose in life is to observe and learn from everything I come across. Whether it is from a person, animal, experience, or object. My purpose is to accumulate this knowledge and grow from it. I believe that you can never stop learning and have always felt this was my purpose. Using my strengths quest theme qualities, I am positive that my strengths will guide me to success. With these qualities, I will successfully reach my personal goal of paying my car loan in full, within the allotted time. I will reach my long-term academic goal of procuring my master’s degree in my desired field. Furthermore, I will achieve my long-term career goal and seek employment with the Federal Bureau of Investigations.

In this role one particular behavior the counselor demonstrated that was helpful was her patience and acceptance of the client’s situation of always being late. The counselor did a positive job creating an environment with structure to allow the client to pursue and exam her causes and feeling of always being late. Another helpful response from the counselor was how she demonstrated an understanding to the client in a manner that also allowed the client to explore her own opportunities at a self-determined pace in order to create a solution for why she was always late. Overall, in this role the counselor demonstrated helpful behaviors that allowed her to see beyond the client’s spoken word and connect on a level with non-verbal cues in order

Functional communication training is a reinforcement procedure designed to teach functionally equivalent, socially acceptable verbal responses that replace inappropriate or disruptive behaviors (Schieltz et al., 2011). These replacement behaviors typically involve appropriately asking for something that the individual wants, such as forms of attention or temporary escape from an aversive task. There are many reasons to implement FCT; it’s easy to implement, it can address a variety of problem behaviors in the classroom, it’s easily catered to the individual, it can improve communication in typically developing individuals, as well as children with mental or developmental disabilities, such as Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).